Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references (p.64-85).

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of undergraduates’ metacognitive beliefs about writing and knowledge, ways that those beliefs may change during the semester, and the relationship of beliefs to their persuasive writing. Scales assessing epistemological and writing beliefs were given to students in lower-division rhetoric and writing courses (N=241). Generally, students experienced significant changes in their beliefs about knowledge, learning, and writing across the semester, as assessed by the Epistemological Beliefs Questionnaire (Schommer, 1993) and writing beliefs scales (White & Bruning, 2002). Thus, students at the end of the semester reported beliefs that learning was a slow process and that knowledge was contingent. Although regressions predicting quality of students’ persuasive writing from the belief scales were not significant, qualitative analyses revealed interesting trends in papers from students with different epistemological stances and beliefs about writing, particularly with regard to their use of sources. / text

Efforts to estimate the population prevalence of chemical sensitivities have been limited and have yielded different estimates of the prevalence of affected individuals. Researchers recognize that people differ in their biological susceptibility to environmental contaminants as well as the amount of contaminant to which they are potentially exposed. Lack of information on the population prevalence of people, who report sensitivity to a chemical or many chemicals, as well as variables associated, has been recognized in previous studies (Kreutzer et al., 1999). In a more recent report, Berg et al., in 2007 reported the prevalence and consequences related to inhalation of chemicals in a Danish population. They concluded that the symptoms related to inhalation of airborne chemicals were common, especially among women. A small part of that population reported that these symptoms affected social life or occupational conditions. Details in prevalence on severity of symptoms caused by inhaled odors, chemicals and irritants have not been investigated comparing populations based on ethnical differences. These differences could influence how individuals report their symptoms. This study evaluated the differences between Americans and Hispanics in sensitivity and symptoms related to inhalation of strong odors, chemical and irritants. We also evaluated the differences between both ethnic groups on quality of life due to these symptoms. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between December 2008 and March 2009. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a total of 290 adults and 205 were selected for the analysis. American and Hispanic individuals of 16 years old or more were included. The responses were cross-tabulated and comparisons between means were performed using t-test and ANOVA. 29.8% of study population reported being more sensitive than the average person and women reported more than men (75%). These findings were consistent with previous reported in the literature. The reaction more frequent reported was to cigarette smoke (60%). Statistically significant differences were identified between Americans and Hispanics regarding to sensitivity to chemicals, irritants, odors or strong fragrances and reaction to cigarette smoke when history of Allergy is present. Significant differences between both ethnic groups were detected with Lower Respiratory, Neuro-psychological and Non-specific symptoms; and Quality of life. These differences were disclosed when history of Allergy, smoking habit, used steroids or antibiotics within the last 4 weeks, and age were considered. Americans reported being more sensitive with exposure to recognized everyday irritants, react more to cigarette smoke and reported more Non-specific symptoms than Hispanics. Hispanic smokers tend to report Lower Respiratory symptoms more than the Americans. Hispanics between 50 to 59 years old reported more Neuro-psychological symptoms than Americans. Quality of life was more affected among Americans if they are exposed to common irritants, when Allergy history and use of steroids or antibiotics were considered.

The research study proposed in this report reviews and integrates the literature on client/parent satisfaction with Therapeutic Assessment. Specifically, the importance of parent collaboration and the intervention potential of child assessment are highlighted. The result is the development of a parent self-report measure that could be utilized in multiple settings to assess the interpersonal and collaborative experiences of parents. It is these experiences of parents which have been shown to be more highly related to general satisfaction than outcomes or demographics. The methodology includes Confirmatory Factor Analysis to revise the scale and MANCOVA to compare traditional assessment with collaborative/therapeutic assessment practices in multiple settings. / text

Clinical professionals in South Africa are generally unaware of the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea (OS A). The cost to the state of untreated apnoea may be extremely high. In primary health care encounters OSA often goes undiagnosed. The cascade of symptoms linked to OSA is profound, placing patients at risk for debilitating problems impacting on self and others. The aim of this study was to validate a questionnaire, which could be used at a primary health care level to identify patients with OSA thus cutting costs and improving efficient, effective and ethical service to patients. The Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) (Netzer et al. 1999) was administered to a clinical sample of consenting patients at a private sleep laboratory in Durban, South Africa (N = 119)(completed n = 110). Home-based sleep studies (n = 116) on a portable cardio-respiratory screening device were also obtained for objective comparison. From the results obtained in this South African sample, the BQ showed low validity and reliability (Cronbach a = 0.62 - 0.84) to individual items of the BQ. The total BQ score and high-risk symptom category analysis showed mildly significant correlations with internationally approved protocols. The BQ identified 60% of the high-risk group (AHI >5). Furthermore, risk categories were useful in predicting AHI ratings in 64% of moderate OSA cases and 25% of severe OSA cases. The BQ therefore has useful psychometric properties as an adjunct assessment tool to screen for high-risk OSA cases where resources are scant. Clinical health psychologists are in an ideal position to recognise the risk factors and symptoms of OSA. The clinical assessment and the value of the correct diagnosis will alleviate the treatment of psychological symptoms at a superficial level in primary health care facilities. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Atlikus tyrimą nustatyti dažniausi pagyvenusio amžiaus žmonių, hospitalizuotų į vidaus ligų skyrių, sveikatos sutrikimai: depresijos simptomai, dauginė patologija, atminties ir pusiausvyros sutrikimai, sensorinių pojūčių pokyčiai, judėjimo, suvokimo sutrikimai bei mažesnis arba didesnis funkcinis nesavarankiškumas. Vyresnių pacientų amžius, lytis bei potencialūs rizikos veiksniai neigiamai susiję su daugeliu pagyvenusio amžiaus žmonių fizinės ir psichinės sveikatos aspektų. Vyresnis amžius didino pagyvenusio amžiaus žmonių fizinės sveikatos bei funkcinės ir pažinimo funkcijų sutrikimus. Moterys dažniau nei vyrai nurodė svorio kritimą ir skundėsi skausmu. Pacientai, turėję atminties sutrikimų, dažniau patyrė griuvimą, atsirado pragulos, buvo nesavarankiški kasdienėje veikloje, turėjo depresijos ir delyro simptomų, nelaikė šlapimo ir išmatų bei skundėsi dvigubu nelaikymu. Nepakankamos mitybos, nelaikantys išmatų, turėję atminties, judėjimo sutrikimų ar ilgai negalėję vaikščioti dažniau turėjo pragulų (p<0,05). Staiga pablogėjus sveikatai gydymas stacionare nevienareikšmiai įtakojo paciento sveikatos būklę: sumažėjo (ar išnyko) ryškūs psichinės sveikatos sutrikimai. Bendravimo sutrikimai ir kasdienė funkcinė veikla nepakito, šlapimo nelaikymas išliko. Instrumentinė kasdienė veikla, lyginant paciento gebėjimus iki hospitalizavimo ir tyrėjo numatytus gebėjimus išrašant iš ligoninės, pablogėjo. Išrašant pacientus iš ligoninės, sumažėjo antibiotikų ir padidėjo psichotropinių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Most common health problems of the hospitalized elderly are the following: symptoms of depression, polypathology, memory and balance disorders, changes of sensory organs, disorders of locomotion, disorders of perception, and the functional dependence of lower or higher degree. The older age of the studied subjects, gender and the potential risk factors had a negative influence on physical and mental health of the elderly.The disorders of physical health, functional and cognitive functions of the elderly increased with the older age. Women more frequently reported weight loss and complained of pain. Patients with memory disorders, more frequently had falls, were dependent in activities of daily living, had bedsores, symptoms of depression and delirium, bladder and bowel incontinence, and double incontinence. Patients with insufficient intake of diet, having bowel incontinence, disorders of memory or being confined to bed more frequently had bedsores (p<0.05). Treatment of acute health deterioration in in-patient clinic had the positive influence on patient‘s health condition: dramatic disorders of mental health (symptoms of delirium, disorders of perception, thinking, memory) reduced (or disappeared). Disorders of communication (self-expression and ability to understand others), problem of bladder incontinence, daily functional dependence did not change. Instrumental activities of daily living deteriorated for discharge period if compared to patient‘s abilities prior to... [to full text]

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Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Purpose: To accurately and precisely evaluate the validity and reliability of the English-language Pelvic Floor Inventories (PelFIs) administered questionnaire. Participants: Fifty female patient volunteers (ages 24 to 82 years) plus fifty female control volunteers (ages 21 to 83 years) completed the 149-item questionnaire. Results: Construct validity of the English-language PelFIs was established by quantifying the differences in prevalence of pfm dysfunction between the patient population and the control population. Very significant findings of F=10.83, p<0.0001 were found for the document as a whole. Content validity was attained by experts, and additional information gathered for further improvement of this tool. Test-retest reliability for all domains was established with ICC=0.905 and no significant differences were found between time-one and time-two. Internal consistency was obtained with significant Pearson's Correlation noted between the domains. The prevalence of co-occurrence of pfm disorders with patients presenting for treatment of a single pfm dysfunction was quantified and 100% of the patients reported symptoms in domains additional to the domain they sought treatment for. The presence of pfm dysfunction was also quantified in the control population and 94% were found to display symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. Conclusions: The English-language PelFIs was shown to be valid and reliable. Co-occurrence of pfm dysfunction was found to be highly prevalent.